Invalid&#39;s pickup stick



y 1952 s. STOGSDILL ET AL INVALIDS PICKUP STICK Filed Sept. 29, 1948 ,7.twin l\lll!lIIIIlllllllllllllllllllllII-i'lllllllll c lli III mmm Nmm

FIG. I

ATTORNEY Fatented May 20, 1952 INVALIDS PICKUP STICK Sherman L.Stogsdill and Benjamin F. Rassieur,

St. Louis County, Mo., assignors to Paulo Products Company, St. Louis,Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application September 29, 1948, SerialNo. 51,764 4 Claims. (01. 294-99) 1.. This invention relates to aninvalids pick-up stick. It is designed for the use of invalid, infirm orhandicapped persons who need an aid in reaching and grasping articles.It may be embodied preferably in an apparatus which can be convertedreadily into a cane or walking stick.

The object of the invention is to provide such a stick having a crookwhich will be almost universal in application, or such that it iscapable of grasping articles of maximum forms. Another object is toprovide means on such a device to permit its being converted readily toa walking stick and reconverted to a pick-up stick.

Since a summary statement can best be made by reference to theaccompanying drawings, that statement follows the short description ofthose drawings.

Fig. 1 is an illustration of a pick-up stick,

which is a preferred embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view;

Fig. 3 is a view of a crook, forming a part of the stick, looking towardits bottom; and

Fig. 4 is a view of the crook looking toward its attaching end.

While the invention is defined in the appended claims, a summarydescription of the invention, without intent to limit it beyond thatrequired by the claims, will assist in a ready understanding of theinvention as defined therein.

The pick-up stick includes a staff I having a crook 2 secured to one ofits ends, the crook comprising preferably a helix 3 of resilient wirewith one end 4 secured to the staff, and its other end 5 extendingtangentially from the helix at a point farthest from the stafi and,therefore, substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal line or axis ofthe staff.

The helix 3 need not be a true circle, as shown, but may be anequivalent loop of different form but having the wire bent in such amanner that edges of the wire forming the loop lie in close proximity sothat a thin object can be resiliently grasped therebetween.

In order to provide means for readily converting-the stick 'to a walkingcane, and vice versa, a rubber tip T is fixed to the end of the staff Iwith a central hole therethrough to accommodate the attaching end 4 ofthe crook 2, so that the end 4 may be held by threaded engagement in theend of the staff.

Preferably, a fitting 6 is provided for use with a tubular staff, thefitting having a centrally threaded bore 1 to receive the threaded end 4of the crock 2, and having a reduced end with a 2 peripheral groove 8,whereby a circular flange 9, on the tip T, may be secured between thefitting B and the interior wall of the tubular staff I.

Having summarily described the inventions salient features, thefollowing detailed description of the invention and the preferredembodiment, as illustrated in the drawings, will give a more completeunderstanding of the invention and will assist in its most efficientapplication.

The staff I, as shown, is tubular throughout and for lightness andeconomy may be cut from aluminum tubular stock of appropriate diameter.A head l0 may be provided and this may be of any convenient orornamental form. As specifically shown, it may be turned from metalstock, such as aluminum, and have therein circular grooves llprincipally for ornamental purposes. It may be turned so as to have alower reduced portion l2, thereby forming a shoulder [3, the reducedportion [2 being'designed to fit within the tubular staff I with the endedge of the stafi engaging the shoulder IS. A circular groove 14 may beout in the periphery of the reduced portion l2 to receive indentations,as shown at I5, in the tubular stalT to hold it firmly on the head [0.

The head H) has a central bore in which is placed a bar magnet 16. Thus,the head will have utility in picking up iron or steel objects.

It will be obvious, however, that the particular head illustrated, ismerely suggested since any convenient or ornamental head may beprovided. Further, in case a staff other than a tubular member isemployed, any convenient method may be used for attaching the head tothe staff, or the head may be made integral with the staff.

The crook 2 has been substantially described. Nevertheless, by way ofillustration, it may be further described so that the invention in thisrespect may be most efliciently used. The following dimensions given areby way of suggestion andexample. The crook may be wound or formed ofspring steel having a diameter, for example, of inch, and the helix mayhave a diameter, preferably, some place between 1 and 2 inches, thisbeing the size which has been found to be most convenient.

The helix is preferably wound so that the edges of the stock are incontact at the upper end, or attaching end, of the crook, but spreadingslightly as the helix is evolved so that there is a slight opening inthe order of '3 to 1% of an inch at the point at which the extended end5 leaves the circle. This permits the greatest convenience in picking upnarrow objects.

While the crock has been designed as including a helix, this helix neednot be a true circle since it may take one of many forms, it beingimportant, only, that it be constructed of loops of wire so that at somepoint the edges of the loops lie in close proximity whereby they mayresiliently engage an article therebetween.

The fitting 6, as specifically shown, has a diameter so that it fitssnugly within .an end of the tubular shaft 1 and may have a pcripheralgroove ll so that the tube may be struck inwardly as shown at [8 forattaching'the tube securely to the fitting 6.

The lower end of the fitting 6 is turned so that it is of substantiallysmaller diameter than the inside diameter of the tubular staff I, and asdescribed has the circumferential groove '8.

The tip T is preferably molded of rubber, the word rubber" being usedgenerically to include natural rubber as well as synthetic. The tip Tmay be so molded as to have a shoulder 19 for engagement with the end ofthe tubular staff I, and, also, a circular flange 9 with an enlargedinner rib 20 to fit tightly in thegroove 8 so that the tip will besecured on the end of the staff.

As previously described, the tip should have a circular bore to receivethe threaded end 4 of the crook, which passes into and is threaded intothe bore 1 of the fitting 6.

It will be obvious from the foregoing description that a skilledmechanic maymake a similar connection with a solid staff by means of .acylindrical ferrule, or other convenient means may be employed. It isessential, however, that the rubber tip be tightly fixed to the end ofthe staff and that it has a centrally located hole so that the crook maybe threaded into and removed from the staff, leaving the staff free tobe used as .a walking cane. Of course, if it is not desired to practicethe invention completely, the crock 2 may be permanently connected tothe-end of the staff I in any convenient manner.

The crook, when attached to an end ,of the stafi, has been found to beof such a form as to have the most uniform application in picking uparticles for theconvenience of the handicapped. For instance, theextended end 5 may serve as .a hook, the helix may be employed to engageover the neck of a bottle, and a sheet of paper,

.or other thin objects, can be wedged between the turns of the helix.These areonly examples of the uses to which the crook can be applied. Atthe same time, the device may be so constructed, and asillustrated inthe drawings, that 7 the crook can be easily disconnected, the crook canbe carried in the pocket, if desired, and the device used asa walkingcane.

It will also be obvious that the staff may be made of any ornamentalmaterial ordinarily used for canes, or 'the like, and that otherornamental handles may be provided. The device is such that it may be ofpleasingdesign, as shown by the drawings. 'Thus, the ornamentation mayserve to overshadow or'soften the stark utility of the device.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction whileretaining a combination which comes within the scope of the appendedclaims, without departing from the spirit of the invention. Parts of theinvention may be used without the whole and improvements may be addedwhile retaining the combination and advantages of the invention.

We claim:

1. An invalids pick-up stick including a stafi and a crook secured toone end of the staff, the crook comprising a helix of resilient wirewith one end extending from the helix and secured to the staff, and theother end extending tangentially from the helix, the helix comprisingone full turn and at least a fraction of a turn, with the fraction lyingcontiguous to the full turn, whereby anobject can be engaged resilientlytherebetween.

:2. An invalids pick-up stick including a stafi and a crook secured toone end of the staff, the crook comprising a helix of resilient wirewith one end extending from the helix "and secured to the stafi, and theother end extending tangentially from the helix at apoint on the helixfarthest from the staff, the helix comprising one full turn and at leasta fraction of a turn, with the fraction lying contiguous to the fullturn, whereby an object can be engaged resiliently therebetween.

3. -An invalids pick-up stick including a staff and a crook secured toone end of the staff. the crock comprising a helix .of resilient wirewith one end extending from the helix and secured to the staff, and theother end extending tangentially from the helix at a point on the helixfarthest from the staff and substantially perpendicular to alongitudinal line of the staff, the helix comprising one full turn andat least a fraction of a turn, with the fraction lying contiguous to thefull turn, whereby an object can be engaged resiliently therebetween.

4. An invalid s pick-up stick including a staff and a crook secured toone end of the staff, the crock comprising a resilient wire having oneend secured to the staff, the wire being looped withmore than one turnand in such a manner that edgesof the wire lie inclose proximity toresiliently engage an article therebetween, and having an extended freeend.

SHERMAN L. STOGSDILL. BENJAMIN -F. RASSIEUR.

.REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 137,622 Ragan Apr.'8, 1873248,805 Silvey Oct. 25, 1881 356,315 Hunt Jan. 18, 1887 763,726 .CookJune 28, 1904 880,807 .Menkin Mar. 3, 1908 1,749,753 Cauflield Mar. 11,1930 1,896,438 Brown Feb. 7., .1933 72,226,778 Petroif -lDec. 31, 19402,367,105 Donaldson .Jan. 9, 1945

